HHS OCR report · 2016
The University of New Mexico data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- The University of New Mexico
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- New Mexico
- Individuals affected
- 2,827
- Submission date
- Jun 3, 2016
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), The University of New Mexico, inadvertently mailed invoices intended for third party payers to random patients’ addresses due to an error in the CE’s billing system. The protected health information (PHI) included patients' names, patient care service categories, clinic names, pharmacies, and dates of service for 2,898 individuals. Upon discovering the breach, the CE manually reviewed its billing programs and put a hold on the billing program that created the error. ...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the The University of New Mexico data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 2,827 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jun 3, 2016.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, with the breached information located in: Paper/Films.
Is the investigation still open?
No. The report is in the OCR portal archive, which holds reports where OCR has closed its review.
Is a breach notice letter from The University of New Mexico legitimate?
This site cannot verify letters. Check the sender against the organisation's official website and the HHS OCR breach portal, and avoid calling numbers or clicking links only listed in an unexpected message. See our guide on what to do after a data breach notice.
Source: HHS OCR Breach Portal, OCR export October 2026. Network USA is not affiliated with HHS or The University of New Mexico.